Because electric heat is one of the most expensive ways to heat your home, you can cut your heating bills significantly by installing a programmable thermostat, like this one, which automatically turns down the heat when it isn't needed. Make sure you buy a high-voltage thermostat designed for electric baseboard heat. Thermostats for electric-baseboard heaters operate at the same voltage as the heater -- usually 240 volts. Low-voltage thermostats designed for gas, oil, or heat pumps won't work and are extremely dangerous on a high-voltage system.
Line-voltage thermostats operate at either 120 or 240 volts and control gable vent fans, electric baseboard heaters, and similar appliances. Replacing them is different but no harder than replacing a furnace thermostat. There is one important -- and potentially dangerous -- difference between the two, however. A conventional low-voltage thermostat operates at 24 volts. An electric baseboard heater may operate at 240 volts. Always make sure the power is off when working on either type of thermostat, but be doubly cautious with a line-voltage thermostat.
Checklist
Time
About 1 hour to cut off power, check, remove, test, and if necessary replace the thermostat
Tools
Multimeter or circuit tester and continuity tester, screwdriver
Skills
Connecting wires
Prep
Find breakers controlling circuit; turn off power and check to make sure
Materials
Line-voltage thermostat, wire nuts
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Making these dreams come true is simpler than you thought -- print these instructions to begin!
steps 5 and 6 connect both labelled "load" and "line" wires to the load wires on the thermostat - is that correct?
1/13/2010 02:53:49 PM Report Abuse